Saint Jérôme 

This sepia drawing by Guercino depicts Saint Jerome, a prominent figure known for his translation of the Bible into Latin. Observe the saint’s pensive pose, his head resting thoughtfully on his hand, a posture that speaks to introspection and scholarly contemplation. This gesture, this melancholic leaning, echoes through centuries of art, from ancient philosophers to Renaissance thinkers. It is found in depictions of hermits, prophets and scholars, all lost in thought. Think of Michelangelo's Lorenzo de Medici, whose pose mirrors a similar contemplation. The hand to the head, as an iconographic formula, captures a moment of profound intellectual engagement and internal struggle, appearing across diverse cultures and eras. Jerome's expression conveys a complex mix of wisdom, weariness, and a deep connection to the divine. This is the human condition, the passing down of sacred knowledge, and the weight of contemplation. We see it and we feel it. A continuous thread through the labyrinth of time.